Apparatus for inflating rotating tires.



R; E. BARNLEY.

APPARATUS FOR INFLATING R0 TATING TIRES.

APPLIOATIGN FILED Jill-'30 Paimted Oct. 8, 1912 Figoi vehicles and connected with an air com-- hRICHARD E. DARNLEY, OE HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FDR INFLATING ROTATING TIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912-.

Application filed January 30. 1912. Serial No. 674.358.

certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Inflating Rotating Tires. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor vehicles. wagons or the like and has for its object the provision of new and improved meansadapted to be applied to the wheels oi su h pressor or compressed air chamber on the vehicle to supply an under pressure to a punctured or deflated tire while the vehicle is in motion and thus maintain a substantial air pressure in the tire for any reasonable time to enable the vehicle to complete the journey without the necessity of stopping to repair the tire or of removing the wheel concerned and applying a spare wheel in its place.

My invention consists broadly in providing a device having one part, which is to be coupled or connected with the valve of the tire, adapted to revolve freely with the wheel and a second part, which is to be coupled or connected to an air compressor or compressed air chamber, adapted to remain stationary, there being a thoroughfare or conduit affording communication between the two parts so that when the device is attached to the wheel and coupled with the compressed air supply, air under pressure is forced through the valve into the air tube of the tire as the vehicle travels along, the 'air supplied in this way compensating for the leakage resulting from puncture or other cause and thereby maintaining the tire fully inflated or suliiciently inflated to admit of the vehicle continuing its journey without repairing the tire. I

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of my invention showing the device detachably secured to the hub cap of a motor vehicle wheel; Fig. 2 is a face view of one form of locking plate employed in the mode of detachably securing the device to the Wheel shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows an alternative means by which the device may be detach.-

ably secured to the wheel, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to the embodiment of my invention shown at l ig. the device con'iprises, in this instance, a easlngr 1 llLlYlIiQ' a conduit 2 connected by a nipple 3 to a flexible tube -l whose opposit e end is suitably connected to the air valve ot' the tire of the wheel to which the device is applied. Supported within the casing, 1 l the inner end of a tube or spindle 5 having: a thorough'i'arc or conduit (3. the outer end of said tube or spindle. being: connected. by a nipple T to a flexible tube 8 leading to ;t motor ineclmnisni of the vehicle or to a comprc scd air storage chamber carried on the Thetube or spindle 5 has fast thereon the innerball race 9 of a suitable ball bearing. the outer ball race 10 of which fits neatly within an annular fiance 11 in the casing and terms a driving fit. therewith, the raising thus being: capable oi revclvins t'rcelv around the part 5 which remains stationary. A suitable gland or stuffing box if prevents leakage oi air from the joint between the inner end ot the tube or spindle 5 and the c nduit 2. A suita le cover 13 closes the end of the casing and maintains the spindle ortuhe 5 in position.

in the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 and Q, a locking plate 15 is centri'dly secured by scrrw or other means on the outer end of the hub cap. Forn'ied in this locking plate are a series of circumferential slots 16 ten initiating in openings '17 of greater width than the said slots. The casing l is provided with a series of sprinc plunger-s l8 corre-- sponding in number and disposition to the slots 16. the said plunaers being provided with enlarged heads 19 whose inner sides are tapered as at 20. In attaching the easing to the i'vheel, the heads of the plnngcrs arcpassed thr ugh the openings 17 and the :asing' given a partial rotation in the direction of the arroin A. Fig. 52-, to carry the plungers around within the slots. The sides 0? the openings 17 are countersunk and cooperate with the tapered portions 20 on the planners to cause the said plungers to be partly withdrawn against the pressure of light springs 21, and the opposite ends of the slots are also countersunk, so that on the plungers arriving at the inner ends of the slots, they are partly drawn back and act to lock the casing firmly to the hub cap.

The locking plates on one side of the vehicle.

suitable air compressor driven by the ma am is :M'luobed by lugs 22', to the casing 1 j Tho above described :incihods of attachlhr. devicc to a vi'hcci hub are only given by way 01' example and l do not limit myself id them or in any particular method of odily uround with mg freely while or Sijllldifi 5 IQlllfilll? luho are carrici air compressor be provided for no or pair oi tubes lion shown at spindle 5 has a b the cover 13 between came and nd of the casin In attaching the dcn' 'ioc to the hub. The casing this instance the inner end of the supply pipe or tube 5 is beveled or tapered as at :27 and fits against a correspondingly beveled or tapered face 01' seat in the casin", a stuffing box being dispensed with.

By the means described, air can bc supplied under pressure to a punctured or leaky tire for any length of time or until the fire can be repaired. without interfering with or delaying the journey.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Let tors Patent is 1 The combination, with a wheel hub, of a casing secured tothe hub and provided with a chamber arranged axially in line with the hub, said casing haying an air outlet at one end for connection with the wheel tire, and having also an annular recess and a removable cover of its other end, an air inlet tube projecting throu h the said cover and mounted axially 1n the said chamber and provided with means for holding itin airtight relation with the said outlet, an outer ball race secured in the said reccss inside the casing, an inner ball racc secured on the paid tube insidotlio casing, and balls running in the said ball races, the said cover being ai'rnngcd to bear against. the inner ball race and thereby prevent it and the air inlet tube from sliding longitudinally in the casing.

In iostinion y whereof I uilix my signature in the presence of two wiill'icsucs.

RIC HARD ll). DAR NILEY. ii it-nesses:

THOMAS H. Bnnnoiw, Flinn]; LEWIN. 

